New Companion

My new companion is great! He's from New Hampshire and is very focused, eager, and energetic. One of the things I like the most is that he is always smiling and happy! We're happy to be working with him. 

Nick leaves next week! We are still meeting but he is basically just busy getting ready to go. We're going to miss him! Besides that we had a great miracle on a bus the other day. We just starting talking to the person next to us, and Elder Horne asked him if had every thought about the purpose of life. The answer was actually, "Yes, a lot." We shared about Christ and the Book of Mormon and gave him one. He seemed very thankful to get it and touched as we got off the bus. He is going on vacation this week, but we hope he will meet missionaries when he comes back! The interesting thing about this is that we didn't actually end up meeting the person we were going to meet, but there always seems to be someone we are intended to meet. 

We caroled to a bunch of members yesterday! It was lots of fun. I enjoyed it, and I hope the members are touched by this Christmas season. We've got a Christmas party coming up that we are getting ready for. We hope to have a lot of people at church on Christmas! 

Have a great Christmas everyone!

​Sunset over Wonju

​Elder du Plessis invented deep-fried Kimchi this week

Snow

Package from home

He is the Light of the World

Transfer calls have come, and Elder du Plessis is leaving to be district leader somewhere else! I am so thankful for Elder du Plessis! The last two transfers have been great. We have progresses so much together, and I have worked well with him more so than any other companion. In our two transfers, we have had no conflicts whatsoever. He is focused on his mission, on those we are teaching, and and becoming better. He has a strong testimony of the gospel. I know he will make a great district leader! I'm going to miss him. 

So Nick this week has been super busy getting ready to go to Canada. We met him once and talked about eternal goals and blessings. He is understanding and believes what we teach very well. We'll keep meeting up until he leaves and seek to have as many spiritual experiences with him as possible, so when he goes to Canada he will be well prepared to meet missionaries there. 

I've talked about this a lot recently, but I have seen such an impact from this in my life that I can hardly say or think of something else. I want to talk about how important it is that we keep our lives focused on the Savior. I have not been a person of many words through most of my life. Any of those who know me can attest to that. But I have something to say about the Savior.

In a message for a member that Elder du Plessis and I planned, we shared about the Savior as the light of the world long before His birth, at His birth, throughout His life, at His death, and ever afterward. Mosiah 13:33 teaches that prophets from the beginning of the world prophesies of Him, bringing light to those long before any had seen him. His birth was marked by night without darkness and a new star in the sky (3 Nephi 1: 15,21). The entire earth saw this light that drew many, literally, to the Savior. His life was full of miracles, signs, and wonders (Mosiah 3:5-6). When the Savior died, so did, literally, the light of the world (3 Nephi 8:20-21). There was no light to be found for three days, the time before the Savior rose again. Again, after centuries of darkness, the Savior appeared in light and great glory to the prophet Joseph Smith, dispelling the darkness that held him hostage (JSH 1:15-17) and restoring the light and truth of His gospel, never again to be taken from the earth. What is this light? It is the knowledge of Jesus Christ, through whom we can change our lives, become better, and find a perfect foundation for eternity that brings everlasting joy. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He did perform the Atonement. I know this because I have felt the enabling and changing power of it in my life and the Holy Ghost, which brings His fire and sanctification into our hearts and souls. This is real. Remember this and act accordingly at Christmas at every other moment of our lives, and we will come to know who He is and who God is, and we will come to know them. 

Have a great Christmas season, everyone! 

Always remember Him

Last zone meeting was a particularly spiritual one. It seemed to focus on all the things that I have been focused on and want to improve. One of those things is to always keep our focus on the Savior. There were two examples shared: Peter leaving the ship to walk on the water to the Savior, and the people of Ammon burying their weapons of rebellion. The connection, which I've never seen before, was quite powerful. If there is anything that pulls our thoughts or feelings or actions away from the Savior, then we we need to forsake those things. As I tried harder, among all the things we do each day, to keep each thought and action focused on Christ, I have felt a difference. As I have set goals to forsake one of my own weapons of rebellion each day, I have felt a difference. I can testify that the Savior is, in fact, the center of the Father's plan for us; so much so, in fact, that if one were to take Him out of it, the plan, the scriptures, prayer, and everything would lose all meaning. Just over the past few days, focusing on the Savior with intent to forsake whatever is keeping me from Him has brought these things to life in a new way. The simple doctrine of His gospel as contained in the Book of Mormon is the most precious of truths. 

This week, we met Nick again and taught him the plan of salvation. He's been reading a lot of the Book of Mormon! We are really excited for him. He is planning on going to Canada soon, but we are working to help him exercise his faith to prepare for baptism. 

Wonju feels a lot more Christmasy than Seoul did! There are light over the streets, big Christmas trees, Christmas music (Michael Buble the other day), and so on. Pretty exciting! I hope you are all getting excited. 

Service